BuildingPermitCost How Denver calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $20.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 0% up to $2,000, 50% above that of the permit fee.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $20.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $35.00 |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $35.00 for the first $2,000 + $8.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $220.00 for the first $25,000 + $8.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $420.00 for the first $50,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $770.00 for the first $100,000 + $5.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $3,010.00 for the first $500,000 + $4.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,385.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.65 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
What counts as project value
Higher of your bid or the valuation table. Valuation is the total value of all construction work (labor, materials, profit, overhead, MEP, elevators, permanent equipment). It is the higher of the current ICC Building Valuation Data or the applicant's stated value. Townhouses: ICC BVD R-2 VB x residence sq ft (incl. basement) + U VB x garage sq ft, times 0.70. Table 2 local values: finished basement with toilet/kitchen $35/sq ft, without $31/sq ft; pop-top $105/sq ft; residential interior renovation $60/sq ft; quick permits: residential shingle roofs $5.25/sq ft, commercial low-slope roofs $7.25/sq ft.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $770.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $5.60 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $2,170.00
- Plan review fee: 50% of $2,170.00 = $1,085.00
- Total before trade permits: $3,255.00.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Two phase construction permits: when Only for two-phase (footing/foundation or podium/superstructure) permits; not available for single-family, duplex or townhomes; $82.13 on the standard projects.
- Three or more phase construction permits: when Only for three-or-more-phase permits; not available for single-family, duplex or townhomes; $164.25 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Additional plan review (incomplete, deferred or modified drawings; third review cycle)When: Only when additional review is triggered | $125.00 per hour |
| Reinspection, after-hours and non-customary inspectionsWhen: Only on reinspection or special inspection | $100.00 per hour |
| Alternate materials/methods or administrative modification application | $125.00 per hour |
| Board of Appeals hearing application | $250.00 each |
| Permit change of contractor | $100.00 each |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy | $200.00 each |
| Forestry plan review & inspection | $65.00 each |
| Contractor license (A, B, C, D) | $250.00 every 3 years |
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Community Planning and Development (CPD).
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.